motorgliders as towplanes

On Mar 12, 1:09*pm, Bruce wrote:
Bruce wrote:
wrote:
On Mar 8, 1:03 pm, Brad wrote:
Can a MG tug pull a loaded 2 place Blanik on a standard day at SL,
from a 1800' grass strip? Or perhaps such a tug could be used to tow
the members single place ships, and the heavier/ 2-place ships stow
behind the clubs remaining pawnee?
Brad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UYPyNgf4Q4

Lambada motorglider towing
UFM 13 Rotax 912 100hp

Personally I would far rather be behind the 100hp Samba or Lambada with
my Std Cirrus - hot and high off grass the accelleration is slower, but
the propwash is limited and climb is better than the asthmatic 180hp
(must be really little ponies over there) super cub.

The wingloading on the Lambada is very similar and the tow combination
is nicely balanced. Behind a 235hp Rallye it is, by comparison
wonderful. Same time to altitude without all the - extreme speed just
off the deck waiting for the tug to leap skyward, then get to be like a
good martini and get all shaken up by the wake turbulence - then scream
around on the outside of all the thermals.

Give me a motorglider any time...

Bruce

In case anyone thought that the MG/UL has too little grunt.
Follow the link below.

The story behind it is - experienced pilot in getting current again on
Janus forgot the thing has a drogue chute.
On a check flight the Janus is towed up from an airfield (Orient) at
5100" MSL at around 20 centigrade.
As you can see the Samba accelerates slowly - then the drogue chute
deploys. (one bump too many )
Tuggie happens to be enormously experienced CFI - uses his head and
abuses the Rotax a little. Combination manages to make a circuit and the
Janus gets dropped over the threshold.
Samba engine did not over heat or suffer any apparent damage, although
it was kept in the time limited maximum power range for the entire circuit.